Burglar-proof car



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet; 1.

J. BBERMAKER. BURGLAR PROOF GAR.

No. 422,047. Patentd Feb. 25, 1890.

(N0 Medal.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

J. BEERMAKER.

BURGLAR PROOF GAR.

Patented Feb. 25 1890. 1. E 7 G UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E,

JOHN BEERMAKER, OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

BURGLAR-PROOF CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,047, dated February25, 1890.

Application filed September 24, 1889. $erial N0. 324,8'52. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN BEERMAKEB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Santa Barbara, in the county of Santa Barbara and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful BurglarsProof Car, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention has relation to expresscars for the transportation ofvaluables, and among the objects in view are to provide a car soconstructed that a person or persons therein can obtain a vision alongthe entire train, and to provide the sides of the car with a series ofport-holes, through which the vision may be obtained and through whichrifles or other fire-arms may be discharged at robbers attempting toenter either the express-car or any of the coaches in front or bullets,and in opposite expansible sides and means for expanding andcontractingthe sides from the interior of the'c'ar, whereby 35port-holes formed in the sides are brought in range with the sides ofthe train, and a guard placed in the express-car can most effectuallyguard the train without subjecting himself to any danger whatever.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of an express-carconstructed in accordance with my invention, the sides being expanded.Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, aplan view,the floor removed and the sides and walls of the car shown in section.Fig.4 is a detail of one of the port-holes and guardshutters.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

In practicing my invention I construct the truck and bottom of the carin the usual manner, and the same consists of longitudinal beams 1,connected by joists 2, over which is superimposed the floor 3.

The sides of the car are provided with an opening at, and in each of theopenings there is mounted a rectangular frame 5, having side walls 6,top and bottom walls 7, and end walls 8, the whole constituting what Ishall herein term a swell. The swells are provided with floor-strips 9,agreeing with the floor 3 of the car, andone swell is provided at itsfioor-line with a pair of in wardly-proj ecting rack-bars 10, mountedfor reciprocation under the floor 3 and in guides 11,formed in the upperedges of the beams 1. A similar pair of rack-bars project from the upperends of the swells, the teeth of the rack-bars being upwardly disposedand riding on the ceiling 13 of the car. The opposite swell is providedat its upper end with a similar pair of rack-bars and at its lower endwith a similar pair corresponding with but oppositely disposed to thoseof the opposite swell. A longitudinal shaft 14: is located between thebeams 1 and has its ends journaled in the joists 2, and is provided withopposite, gears 17, meshing with the oppositely-disposed rack-bars. Asimilar shaft 16 is journaled in the end walls of the car above theceiling, and is provided with opposite end gears 17, meshing with andoperating theupper pairs of rack-bars.

18 represents a vertical shaft journaled in the top and bottom of thecar and provided with opposite bevel-gears located near the upper endand the other near the lower end,

said gears meshing with similar gears 20, mounted on the longitudinalshafts. An opcrating-lever 21 is pivoted at its upper end to thevertical shaft and is concaved and adapted to fold down and embrace theshaft when not in use.

Each of the four upper corners of the swells are provided with openings23, and over the same are secured perforated plates or screens 24 andbehind the screens suit-able searchlights 25.

The sides 6 and the end walls 8 of each of the swells are provided withcircular portholes 26, which communicate with sight-slots 27 above thesame. Each of the port-holes is partially surrounded by a U-shapedhousing 28, and 111 each housing is pivoted, as at 29, a shutter 30,having a circular recess 31 in its upper edge'adapted to be depressed toregister with the portiwhich it. is designed to cover. A spring 32,located in the housing, normally maintains the shutter in a closed orelevated position and against a stop 33.

The operation of my invention is as follows: By grasping the lever thatoperates the vertical shaft and bringing the same to a horizontalposition and thus rotating the shaft the rotatable motion will beimparted to the longitudinal shafts through the medium of thebevel-gears. This rotates the end gears and operates the opposite pairsof rack-bars in contrary direction, thus squarely forcing the swellsoutwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. It will now be apparent that the sides ofthis car project considerably out of the plane of the train, so thatevery entrance or platform of all the coaches are in plain view, and atnight will be lighted by means of the searchlights.

7 By the term squarely forcing the swells I- mean advancing all sides ofthe swells to the same extent or distance from the car.

A guard in the eXpresscar by looking through the slots above theport-holes can carefully Watch each portion of the train without beingseen, and should occasion require can thrust the muzzle of a fire-armagainst one of the beveled recessed edges of the guardplate or shutter,and the port-holes covered thereby will be opened and through the samethe piece may be discharged. When not in use, or when otherwise desired,the swells may be contracted by a reversal of the operation described.

In practice I prefer to construct the sides 6 of the swell of a seriesof hinged panels, preferably formed of suitable metal, so that thepanels may be folded one upon the other and form'a doorway for thetaking in and discharging of the cargo. v

Numerous changes may be made in regard to the details of my inventionwithout departing from the spirit of the same; and I would herein statethat I do not limit myself to the means shown for operating the swells,

but hold that I may vary the same to any extent and manner within theskill of persons conversant therewith.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim is 1. A car the sides ofwhich are provided with openings intermediate its ends, in combinationwith swellsmounted in the openings, and means for squarelyreciprocatingor advancing the swells beyond the frame of the car, substantially asspecified.

2. A car the sides of which are projected beyond the general plane ofthe train and provided at the ends of its extensions with port-holes, incombination with shutters adapted to normally close said port-holes,substantially as specified. 1

3. p The combination, with a car having opposite openings, of closedswells fitting the openings, rack-bars extending fro m the swells attheir opposite upper and opposite lower ends, the teeth of the rack-barof one swell being oppositely disposed to the corresponding bar of theopposite swell, gears arranged intermediate and meshing with the teethof each pair of rack-bars, longitudinal shafts for supporting the gears,a beveled gear mounted on each of said shafts, and a vertical shaftjournaled in the top and bottom of the car and having opposite beveledgears meshing with those of the longitudinal shafts and provided with ahand-lever for rotating the same, substantially as specified.

at. The'combination, with' the sides of the car having port-holes, ofU-shaped housings surrounding the port-holes, a pivoted shutter orguard. mounted in each of the housings and over the port-holes, springsfor normally closing the shutters, and a recess formed in the upperedges of the shutters and adapted to be thrown into line with theport-holes, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto"'affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses. v I

JOHN BEERMAKER.

Witnesses:

C. M. STUART, W. W. Wns'r.

